Answer:
Bacteriophages are attaching to bacterial cell wall and injecting genetic material.
Explanation:
Bacteriophage:
A bacteriophage (bacteria eater) is a type of virus that infects bacteria. Bacteriophages are composed of genetic material (DNA or RNA) enclosed in a protein shell or capsid.
Following are steps of bacteriophage infection:
- Bacteriophage attaches to cell surface receptors on the surface of the bacterium.
- Depending upon the type of phage, the bacteriophage either injects its DNA or RNA into the bacterium or enters as a whole. In this image, the bacteriophage T4 is represented which injects its genetic material into the host cell.
- The phage's genetic material hijacks the cellular machinery of the host and replicates itself within the host.
- After replication, the phages burst open the bacteria cell and are released. This is called the lytic cycle of bacteriophage infection.
- In another type of infection cycle, called the lysogenic cycle, the bacteriophage genome gets incorporated into the host genome, known as a prophage. This prophage lies dormant.
* The second step of the infection cycle is pictured here.
